DIYARBAKIR - Evaluating the hunger strikes that started by the prisoners, Med-Tuhad-Fed Co-chair Elif Harran said, “There is an isolation that's imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and this isolation affects the whole society. The detainees' demand is humane and conscientious.” She stated that the AKP-MHP government should fulfill the demands of the detainees as soon as possible.

 

The hunger strike which started on November 27 by detainees in Turkey's and region's prisons to abolish the continued isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and end the right violations in prisons continues by the fifth group.  With the coronavirus epidemic, the life-threatening of prisoners is increasing day by day.

 

Elif Harran, the co-chairperson of Prisoners' Families Legal and Solidarity Associations Federation (MED TUHAD-FED), made evaluations on the hunger strike and the violations of prisoners' rights under the pandemic conditions..

 

'This is the policy of revenge'

 

Saying  ''The government takes revenge on prisoners who started the hunger strike in 2018. This is a policy of revenge.'' Elif explained that with the pandemic, conditions in prison get worse but the government does not take a step towards this. "The prisoners cannot consume enough nutritions. Prisoners who want to buy food or drink from the canteen face a huge price. In the statements made  by the government about the pandemic outside of prisons, the social distance and mask rules are important. But they do not care about these rules in prisons. Because 25 or 30 people stay in 15-person wards. This leaves people unprotected against the epidemic " she said.

 

‘The demand is humane and conscientious’

 

Referring to the purpose of the hunger strikes, Elif noted that the hunger strikers in previous years have not lost their physical effect of hunger strike, but that no other way is left for the prisoners they started hunger strike again. ''The government can send delegation to Imrali whenever they want. So why don't they abolish the isolation while there are so many people who want it? As all detainees have rights, Abdullah Öcalan also has rights. But for years, an isolation has been imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, and this isolation affects the whole society.The AKP-MHP government should fulfill the demands of the detainees as soon as possible. Because their demands are humane and conscientious. These demands must be fulfilled as soon as possible, ”she said.

 

Finally, Elif made a call to prisoners' families and non-governmental organizations and said, “Let's support the prisoners. Let's do whatever we can do. The AKP-MHP government should listen to the demands of the prisoners ”.